Excerpt of the Radio Log
 
U-177 (G y s a e)
 
 
Patrol from 1 April 1943 - 1 October 1943
 
     
 
  Incoming:
     
02.04.43 1. New objective point for Mässenhausen, Rodler, Pool, Heinsohn, Otto, Junker, Pückler, Wolfram is GG 14.  For G y s a e naval square GR, for Mohr contrary to previous orders JZ 65.
  2. Vowe taking into account all precautionary regulations in the Bay of Biscay make for KN 35 at high speed.
     
05.04.43 ßß G y s a e  passing naval square CG 14 outbound.  Short signal strength 2, garbled.
     
09.04.43 1. Schäfer provide situation tonight, Rendtel provide location or entering port message.
  2. A U-boat is suspected in HG 45 since 6 March, Achilles if detected report situation.
  3. Circuits on 10 April at 08.00 hours.
    Borm, Fiedler, Wolfbauer, Mumm, Müller and Rüggeberg Coastal.  Purkhold, Irland.  Grandefeld, G y s a e and Buchholz America II.
  4. Circuit for Kottmann is Ireland, for all of Group Adler on 10 April at 20.00 hours Hubertus.
     
22.04.43 To G y s a e:
  1. The third sentence of the Wagtail experience Radio Message is incomprehensible.
  2. Question:  is a rope length of 400 meters necessary for operations?
     
24.04.43 1. Auffermann, Poel, Hackländer, Kottmann, provide weather before 05.00 hours.
  2. Short position report. . .
  3. On 23 April 08.00 hours switch Neide Diana, Köppe Ireland, Buchholz,   G y s a e Africa, Piening Coastal
     
03.05.43 To G y s a e:
  1. Dead angle of Wagtail works out at 40-60°.  To bridge over, slow alterations of course up to 80° according to running speed-check by the aircraft pilot.  Wagtail will then fly in a relative wind, the direction of which may vary by as much as 40° from the true wind.  By means of complementary alterations of course and supplementary sheering off on the part of the aircraft pilot, the dead angle is satisfactorily bridged over. 
  2. Measured visibility ranges follow at first opportunity.  Most favorable altitude 100 meters.
  3. According to Baltic experiences, in normal visibility Wagtail cannot be seen at a distance of three miles without binoculars and six miles with binoculars.
     
06.05.43 G y s a e:
    Inspection [illegible word] informs:  Inspect and grease FA-330 impact joints half-hourly.
     
    Attack area for G y s a e is sea area between the longitudes of GR 54 and KY 66 as well as to the north of the latitude of JJ 48.  During favorable moon period operate under coast, later moving to the south.  Independent traffic is suspected under the coast and in JJ 10-50.  All naval squares.
     
12.05.43 To G y s a e:
  1. Results visibility testing in the Baltic without binoculars:
    1st day:  True visibility 30-40 sm.  11000 GRT steamer was detected at 20 nm
 
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     
 
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    with certainty, between 25 and 30 nm without certainty.
    2nd day:  True visibility 8-10 nm.   Thick haze on the water surface.  A 15000 GRT steamer could be detected at approximately 20 nm distance by Wagtail and size addressed.
    3rd day:  True visibility about 30 nm.  A 3000 GRT steamer was detected at 25 nm.
  2. Distance to the targets can be calculated by the formula 2 times the root of eye level.  Example: 50 meters height, steamer exactly on the horizon, distance 14 nm.  At 100 meters height distance 20 nm, at 200 meters height distance 28 nm.
  3. Change altitude constantly from 50 to 50 meters [apparently a typo U-177 flew from 90-200 meters] and search the horizon. Vessels before the horizon are much more difficult to detect.
     
14.05.43    
1633/14 Wiebe reports after return:
  1. Traffic situation in KY varies.  Coastal route 100-meter line apparently heavily travelled.  Evasive movement according to U-boat sightings.
  2. Sea defense coast, once night air with detection near the coast determined.  Air untrained.
  3. Current conditions:  Agulhas Current at the 200-meter line noted up to 5 knots to the south submerged.  Toward the coast lower current 1-2 knots.  Very bad sound conditions.  Frequent visual sweeps necessary.  Naval squares.
     
18.05.43    
1915/18/475 Witte reports after return:
  1. Strong traffic protected and unprotected independents and small convoys on the 100-meter line on NW-SE courses between squares 5696 and 6729.  Land detection, however not a single proof, in spite of the boat detecting continuous tones.
  2. Arriving and departing traffic for 5353, further eastbound traffic on north-south courses, possibly on the 200-meter line.
  3. Defense:  Untrained day air, at one point locating night air.  Untrained escorts, few and far between destroyers.
     
20.05.43    
2044/20/493 To G y s a e:
  If there are new Wagtail experiences, include with next situation report.
     
22.05/43    
11xx/22/409 To G y s a e:
  Naval square 5553 is correct.  From several documents the Bay is an assembly area for north or south bound convoys which may go close to land.
     
30.05.43    
1800/30/498 Convoy located today at 07.00 hours KY 6280 course east.  - U-178 -
     
31.05.43    
1118/31/461 Repeat message:  U-177 report of 29 May:
  1. Convoy 9 steamers 24.00 hours square 6769 course 125°, speed 10 knots.
  2. Escorts.  Surface - air detection, lighted aircraft, all untrained.
  3. Sank 1 tanker, 2 freighters, total 24000 GRT.
  4. Set off to reload, in square 53 all naval square GR.
     
04.06.43    
2334/4/469 Buchholz:
  Recommend meeting point with G y s a e.  Torpedo transfer weather permitting.
 
     
     
     
 
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05.06.43    
0100/5/471 1. Meeting point with G y s a e 10 June 12.00 hours in square 6255.
  2. Fuel supply insufficient for return transit. Request for now 20 cbm from G y s a e.
  3. Position GR 9669.  All naval square.                   - Buchholz -
     
0342/5/472 G y s a e and Buchholz:
  Meeting point on 7 June 12.00 hours in naval square GR 4885.  No torpedo transfer.  Afterwards G y s a e make for JB 10.  Supply for Buchholz scheduled on return transit.  
     
07.06.43    
0055/7/498 To Buchholz:
  Go the meeting point suggested by G y s a e.
     
1920/7/404 1. Nissen report situation.
  2. To receive freedom to maneuver:
    Kentrat    including Hartmann attack area.
    Dommes  including Kentrat attack area.
    Lüth         to the east up to and including naval square KQ.
  3. G y s a e on easterly transit go far enough south that use of the Wagtail is possible.
     
08.06.43    
1439/8 ßß I send bearing signals in accordance with Naval War Orders.    U-195
     
19.06.43    
1659/19/403 G y s a e:
  Occasionally report:
  1. If rotor blades have changed or warped from the tropical climate.
  2. If the rotor runs more roughly than at the beginning of the journey.
  3. If the Wagtail or the hoist arrangements shows signs of corrosion.
  4. If the hoist, apart from the known faults, meets the basic requirements of the application.
     
23.06.43    
2310/23/449 To Southern Boats:
  The following traffic areas are suspected:
  1. Independent or convoy traffic for "Port Elizabeth" or "Durban" over via JA 10 via KE 20 to the north in both directions.
  2. Farther from both harbors from KQ 60, 90 via KP 60 or KG 80 in northerly direction.
  3. About 10-20 enemy ships per month call at "Lourenço Marques" and "Beira".  At "Lourenço Marques" only Portuguese coastal traffic operates with smaller ships.  Report larger and also Spanish ships by radio message.  Nothing is known of "Argentinean" or "Chileans" in the local area.  Immediately report suspicious neutrals by radio message if there is no tactical disadvantage.  All naval squares.
     
10.07.43    
1751/10/499 G y s a e and Lüth:
  An Italian submarine in the local area probably has a transmitter malfunction.  Boat has orders to watch from 11 July at 08.00 hours to 13 July at 08.15 hours every 4 hours in the first quarter of an hour, and so watch from 08.00 - 08.15 hours and 12.00 - 12.15 hours on 820 meters.  G y s a e and Lüth are to call using call sign"GZDT " and if an answer takes place, this radio message is to be repeated as transmitted on the German U-boat wave.
 
     
     
     
 
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13.07.43    
2239/13/438 G y s a e and Lüth occupy naval square GR for the following new moon period.  Until then freedom to maneuver.
     
18.07.43    
1037/18/403 G y s a e:
  Films keep well at 5 degrees and below.  Bring cooled film slowly to outside temperature because otherwise, the coating is sticky from condensation.
     
1204/18/404 To Cape Town boats:
  Supposedly on 9 July, a convoy of 14 ships from Cape Town to India, route due to U-boat danger 130 nm to the south of Madagascar.
     
1826/18/408 To G y s a e:
  Old operations area optional.
     
20.07.43    
1240/20/430 To Cape Town boats:
  Supposedly on 17 July a convoy of 16 ships arrived "Port Elizabeth" and on 24 July 1 passenger steamer from Durban for India and Egypt.
     
21.07.43    
1848/21/451 To G y s a e:
  Occasionally report whether the altimeter of the Wagtail is in order and is working properly.
     
01.08.43    
1112/1/498 1. Lüth, G y s a e, Hartmann, Kentrat free to maneuver.
  2. Hartmann, Kentrat report situation or position.
     
19.08.43    
1859/19/478   G y s a e report position.  Afterwards "Schäfer" suggest meeting place for transfer of "Bellatrix" [cypher code].
     
20.08.43 ßß Aircraft attack with train of bombs, am not clear to dive.  To the south of square KQ 8252.
     
xxxx/20/494 ßß My position is square JA 2224.            U-196
     
1630/20/495   Short signal from Bartels 16.14 hours:  Aircraft attack with train of bombs, am not clear to dive.  To the south of square KQ 8252. Received garbled.
                                                                          Hartmann.
     
20.08.43    
1235/20/498   Schäfer suggest meeting place with G y s a e for the purpose of delivery of the code material for October.
     
205x/20/497 To Kentrat and Lüth:
  Both boats are to proceed at best speed to Bartels, who at 16.40 hours is in naval square KQ 8252 bombed, unclear to dive on southerly course.
     
23.08.43    
0040/23/420 1. Bartels immediately report position and situation.
  2. Lüth and Kentrat without regard to fuel situation search once more in naval square KQ 8252.  Afterwards return transit.
 
     
     
     
 
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24.08.43    
xx14/24/446 Heard 3 times from G y s a e on 36 meters:  Due to westerly storm moved meeting point 150 nm north.  There two flying boats held contact.  Set off.  Request meeting be canceled.
     
25.08.43    
0001/25/448 To G y s a e and Schäfer
  1. Meeting settled.  Continue transit.
  2. Meeting with another boat scheduled later for "G y s a e".
     
05.09.43 To G y s a e, Hartmann, Schröter, Wissmann:
1237/5/414 1248/5/415 1. From 6 to 12 September daily at 14.00 hours on frequency "SN", at 15.00 hours on "IP", and at 16.00 hours and 17.00 hours on 12725 kHz (frequency from Circuit b) every 15 minutes pay special attention to reception, whether or not SN or IP are part of your circuit.
  2. Homeland expects naval radio messages from a very low power transmitter. Cannot be deciphered by boats.  Date time group with minutes numbered 17 or 42 with date without serial number.  As far as tactical position allows act as radio repeater if homeland does not acknowledge.
  3. Use the all-wave receiver for the additional frequencies.
     
12.09.43    
1222/12/415 1. Wissmann, Schröter, Achilles expect resupply during the return transit possibly in SS 60.
  2. G y s a e and Stock on 13 September 08.00 hours switch America II Circuit.
     
16.09.43    
1247/16/340 1. For Lüth and Kentrat supply operation intended in QC 60 or further to the north.  In addition Lüth report location and day's run as well as required quantity of supplies
  2. If G y s a e requires resupply, report position.
     
25.09.43    
1750/25/342 G y s a e:
  1. From America for Gibraltar 25 September in DH 15, on 26 in DH 31, on 27 in CG 88.
  2. Departing Gibraltar for England 24 September.  On 26 in CG 76, on 27 in CF 93.
  3. From England for Gibraltar 26 September in CF 34, on 27 in CF 65, use caution in view of strong air - and sea surveillance of all naval squares.
  4. Hartmann entered port.
     
1936/25/343 To G y s a e:
  On 26 September at 08.00 switch Ireland Circuit.
     
28.09.43    
2314/28/196 1. Finke report position.
  2. Barber until 06.00 hours report weather for the last time and 29 September 08.00 hour switch to America I.
  3. Wächter report fuel passing longitude of square green UJ 8458.
  4. Kluth, Albrecht, Otto, Hepp, G y s a e on 29 September at 08.00 switch to Coastal Circuit.
     
29.09.43    
1725/29/80 Return harbor for G y s a e is Bordeaux.  Kluth Lorient, U-386 and Otto is St. Nazaire, Hepp Brest.                        F.d.U. West.
 
     
     
     
 
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29.09.43    
x336/29/81 1. G y s a e return transit via Piening Route is up to you.
  2. Becker tonight report further details concerning Wanze failure.
  3. Finke report position.
     
30.09.43    
xx15/30/84 On 1 October 14.00 hours G y s a e be at convoy meeting point for Bordeaux.  Signal heard by Bernau on 36 meters with strength 4-5. 
     
01.10.43    
xx15/30/10 G y s a e:
  Convoy positioned 1 October at 14.00 hours at Point "Gabel".
                                                                       12. U-Flottille.